Hulu + Live TV Adds Cubs’ Marquee Sports Network

The Cubs’ regional network, Marquee Sports Network, has returned to Hulu + Live TV in the Chicago market. The service is available at no extra charge for in-market subscribers. Prime Video now offers Marquee’s direct-to-consumer option for local viewers to purchase.

Timing and season context

The distribution announcement came Wednesday. It arrives almost a week before the Cubs open the season on March 26 at Wrigley Field. The matchup is against the Washington Nationals.

History of the carriage relationship

Marquee launched on Feb. 22, 2020. That launch followed an initial carriage agreement with Hulu announced five days earlier. Hulu briefly carried Marquee in 2020 before pausing carriage until the regular season.

In October 2020 Hulu removed Marquee and other Sinclair regional sports networks. The recent deal ends a short-lived absence lasting almost five-and-a-half years.

What fans can access

In-market subscribers on Hulu + Live TV gain the same live Cubs coverage available elsewhere. Fans who prefer a direct subscription can buy Marquee through Prime Video.

Where Marquee is available

• Local cable: Comcast and Astound.
• Satellite: DirecTV.
• Streaming packages: DirecTV streaming and Fubo.
• DTC platforms: Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire and Samsung TV.

Streaming bundles and keywords

Hulu + Live TV Adds Cubs’ Marquee Sports Network in-market at no fee. The move provides options across traditional streaming bundles and DTC platforms.

Industry and distribution context

Hulu carries only a handful of regional sports networks. Its current RSNs include NBC’s networks in Boston, the Bay Area and Philadelphia.

Hulu does not carry the Yankees’ YES Network, the Red Sox’s NESN, or Chicago Sports Network. Those networks remain absent from the platform.

Executive comment

Will Bell, Sinclair’s senior vice president and head of distribution and network relations, called the agreements meaningful momentum. He said the deals expand distribution and give fans more flexibility ahead of Opening Day.

Market scale after the Fubo-Disney deal

In October, Fubo and Disney closed a merger tying Fubo to Disney’s Hulu + Live TV. The combined service became the second-largest virtual pay-TV provider.

The merged platform serves more than 6.2 million subscribers. YouTube TV remains the largest, with more than 10 million subscribers.

Reporting for Filmogaz.com.